U.S. patent application number 13/546350 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-16 for parking assistance system using projector and method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Yang Woo Kwon. Invention is credited to Yang Woo Kwon.
Application Number | 20130120572 13/546350 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48145334 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130120572 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kwon; Yang Woo |
May 16, 2013 |
PARKING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM USING PROJECTOR AND METHOD THEREOF
Abstract
A parking assistance system using a projector and a method
thereof are provided. The parking assistance system includes a
projector, a capture module, and a control unit. The projector
projects an image to outside a vehicle. The capture module captures
a projection region of the projector. The control unit controls the
projector to illuminate the projection region, and controls a
screen output of an image captured by the capture module.
Inventors: |
Kwon; Yang Woo; (Yongin-si,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kwon; Yang Woo |
Yongin-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
Yongin-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
48145334 |
Appl. No.: |
13/546350 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/148 ;
348/E7.085 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D 15/0295
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/148 ;
348/E07.085 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/18 20060101
H04N007/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 14, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0118160 |
Claims
1. A parking assistance system using a projector, comprising: a
projector projecting an image to outside a vehicle; a capture
module capturing a projection region of the projector; and a
control unit controlling the projector to illuminate the projection
region, and controlling a screen output of an image captured by the
capture module.
2. The parking assistance system of claim 1, wherein the control
unit transfers a guide image for guiding parking of the vehicle to
the projector, for the guide image to be projected onto the
illuminated projection region.
3. The parking assistance system of claim 2, further comprising a
steering angle sensor detecting a steering angle, wherein the
control unit transfers the guide image, having a guide line trace
corresponding to the detected steering angle, to the projector.
4. The parking assistance system of claim 1, further comprising an
obstacle sensing module sensing an obstacle located in the
projection region, wherein when the obstacle is sensed, the control
unit transfers an obstacle image to the projector for the obstacle
image to be projected onto the projection region.
5. The parking assistance system of claim 1, wherein the control
unit transfers a text image to the projector for the text image to
be projected onto the projection region.
6. The parking assistance system of claim 5, wherein the text image
is an image for cautioning a pedestrian against the vehicle.
7. The parking assistance system of claim 1, wherein when intensity
of illumination outside the vehicle is less than or equal to a
reference value, the control unit controls the projector to
illuminate the projection region.
8. The parking assistance system of claim 1, wherein the projector
projects an image onto a rearward region of the vehicle.
9. The parking assistance system of claim 8, wherein when a gear
shift lever is disposed at a backing step, the control unit
controls the projector to illuminate the projection region.
10. The parking assistance system of claim 8, wherein when a gear
shift lever is disposed at a backing step and intensity of
illumination outside the vehicle is less than or equal to a
reference value, the control unit controls the projector to
illuminate the projection region.
11. A parking assistance method using a projector, the parking
assistance method comprising: controlling the projector to
illuminate a projection region outside a vehicle; and receiving an
outward image of the vehicle, comprising the projection region
illuminated by the projector, from a capture module to control a
screen output of the image.
12. The parking assistance method of claim 11, further comprising
transferring a guide image for guiding parking of the vehicle to
the projector, for the guide image to be projected onto the
illuminated projection region.
13. The parking assistance method of claim 12, wherein the guide
image is an image which has a guide line trace corresponding to a
steering angle.
14. The parking assistance method of claim 11, further comprising:
determining whether an obstacle is located in the illuminated
projection region; and transferring an obstacle image to the
projector for the obstacle image to be projected onto the
illuminated projection region, when the obstacle is determined as
being located.
15. The parking assistance method of claim 11, further comprising
transferring a text image to the projector for the text image to be
projected onto the illuminated projection region.
16. The parking assistance method of claim 15, wherein the text
image is an image for cautioning a pedestrian against the
vehicle.
17. The parking assistance method of claim 11, further comprising
determining whether sensed intensity of illumination outside the
vehicle is less than or equal to a reference value, wherein when
the sensed intensity of illumination is less than or equal to the
reference value, the controlling of the projector is performed.
18. The parking assistance method of claim 11, wherein the
projection region is a certain region rearward from the
vehicle.
19. The parking assistance method of claim 18, further comprising
determining whether a gear shift lever is disposed at a backing
step, wherein when the gear shift lever is disposed at the backing
step, the controlling of the projector is performed.
20. The parking assistance method of claim 19, further comprising
determining whether sensed intensity of illumination outside the
vehicle is less than or equal to a reference value, wherein when
the gear shift lever is disposed at the backing step and the sensed
intensity of illumination is less than or equal to the reference
value, the controlling of the projector is performed.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119
to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0118160, filed on Nov. 14,
2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference
in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle parking system,
and in particular, to a system for assisting the parking of a
vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Generally, a parking assistance system of a vehicle overlaps
a guide line image for reverse parking with a rearward image of the
vehicle that has been captured by a rear camera, and displays the
rearward image with the guide line image overlapped therewith,
thereby providing a driver's convenience in reverse parking As an
example of such a technology, Korea Patent Publication No.
10-2011-0056593 has been disclosed a parking guide system. The
parking guide system includes a steering angle measurement module,
an image capture module, an image processing module, and a display
module. The steering angle measurement module measures the steering
angle information of a handle, and the image capture module
captures a rearward region of a vehicle. The image processing
module generates an overlap image by overlapping an image, captured
by the image capture module, with a steering linkage trace line
based on steering angle information that has been measured by the
steering angle measurement module. The display module displays the
image generated by the image processing module. As described above,
a related art parking guide system displays a steering linkage
trace line that is based on the rotation of a handle in reverse
parking, and thus assists the reverse parking that is performed by
a driver. However, when a parking space is very dark, it is
difficult to visually check the parking space even though an image
captured by a rear camera of a vehicle is displayed. In this case,
the related art parking guide system cannot properly assist reverse
parking that is performed by a driver.
SUMMARY
[0004] Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a system and a
method, which can properly assist parking performed by a driver
even when a parking space is dark.
[0005] The present disclosure also provides a system and a method,
which can provide a pedestrian with information regarding the
parking of a vehicle.
[0006] In one general aspect, a parking assistance system using a
projector includes: a projector projecting an image to outside a
vehicle; a capture module capturing a projection region of the
projector; and a control unit controlling the projector to
illuminate the projection region, and controlling a screen output
of an image captured by the capture module.
[0007] The control unit may transfer a guide image for guiding
parking of the vehicle to the projector, for the guide image to be
projected onto the illuminated projection region.
[0008] The parking assistance system may further include a steering
angle sensor detecting a steering angle, wherein the control unit
transfers the guide image, having a guide line trace corresponding
to the detected steering angle, to the projector.
[0009] The parking assistance system may further include an
obstacle sensing module sensing an obstacle located in the
projection region, wherein when the obstacle is sensed, the control
unit transfers an obstacle image to the projector for the obstacle
image to be projected onto the projection region.
[0010] The control unit may transfer a text image to the projector
for the text image to be projected onto the projection region.
[0011] The text image may be an image for cautioning a pedestrian
against the vehicle.
[0012] When intensity of illumination outside the vehicle is less
than or equal to a reference value, the control unit may control
the projector to illuminate the projection region.
[0013] The projector may project an image onto a rearward region of
the vehicle.
[0014] When a gear shift lever is disposed at a backing step, the
control unit may control the projector to illuminate the projection
region.
[0015] When a gear shift lever is disposed at a backing step and
intensity of illumination outside the vehicle is less than or equal
to a reference value, the control unit may control the projector to
illuminate the projection region.
[0016] In another general aspect, a parking assistance method using
a projector includes: controlling the projector to illuminate a
projection region outside a vehicle; and receiving an outward image
of the vehicle, including the projection region illuminated by the
projector, from a capture module to control a screen output of the
image.
[0017] The parking assistance method may further include
transferring a guide image for guiding parking of the vehicle to
the projector, for the guide image to be projected onto the
illuminated projection region.
[0018] The guide image may be an image which has a guide line trace
corresponding to a steering angle.
[0019] The parking assistance method may further include:
determining whether an obstacle is located in the illuminated
projection region; and transferring an obstacle image to the
projector for the obstacle image to be projected onto the
illuminated projection region, when the obstacle is determined as
being located.
[0020] The parking assistance method may further include
transferring a text image to the projector for the text image to be
projected onto the illuminated projection region.
[0021] The text image may be an image for cautioning a pedestrian
against the vehicle.
[0022] The parking assistance method may further include
determining whether sensed intensity of illumination outside the
vehicle is less than or equal to a reference value, wherein when
the sensed intensity of illumination is less than or equal to the
reference value, the controlling of the projector is performed.
[0023] The projection region may be a certain region rearward from
the vehicle.
[0024] The parking assistance method may further include
determining whether a gear shift lever is disposed at a backing
step, wherein when the gear shift lever is disposed at the backing
step, the controlling of the projector is performed.
[0025] The parking assistance method may further include
determining whether sensed intensity of illumination outside the
vehicle is less than or equal to a reference value, wherein when
the gear shift lever is disposed at the backing step and the sensed
intensity of illumination is less than or equal to the reference
value, the controlling of the projector is performed.
[0026] Other features and aspects will be apparent from the
following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a parking assistance
system using a projector, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a rearward view
region of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a projection
region where a projector according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure illuminates a road surface rearward from a vehicle.
[0030] FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a backing guide
image which is projected onto the road surface rearward from the
vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an obstacle
image which is projected onto the road surface rearward from the
vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a text image
which is projected onto the road surface rearward from the vehicle
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a parking assistance
method using the projector, according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout the
drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described,
the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to
the same elements, features, and structures. The relative size and
depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity,
illustration, and convenience. The following detailed description
is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive
understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described
herein. Accordingly, various changes, modifications, and
equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described
herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be
omitted for increased clarity and conciseness. The terminology used
herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only
and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used
herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to
include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms
"comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification,
specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,
operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the
presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0035] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a parking assistance
system using a projector, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, a parking assistance system according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a display
module 100, a projector 200, a capture module 300, and a control
unit 400. Furthermore, the parking assistance system may further
include a gear position sensor 500. Also, the parking assistance
system may further include a steering angle sensor 600 and an
illumination intensity sensor 700. The display module 100 may be a
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), and display image data, delivered
from the control unit 400, on a screen. The projector 200 is a
device that projects an image on a projection screen, and may be
mounted on an appropriate position of a vehicle so as to project
the image onto the outside of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the
projector 200 projects an image onto a rearward region of the
vehicle. A projection region may be a road surface rearward from
the vehicle, a wall surface rearward from the vehicle, or the like.
The capture module 300 is a camera, and is mounted on an
appropriate position of the vehicle so as to capture the projection
region of the projector 200. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the
projector 200 and the capture module 300 are respectively mounted
on the appropriate positions of a rear end of the vehicle such that
a projection region 210 of the projector 200 is disposed inside a
capture view region 310 of the capture module 300. The control unit
400 may be an electronic control unit that controls electronic
devices of the vehicle. The control unit 400 may transmit/receive a
signal to/from the projector 200 and the capture module 300 through
a Serial Peripheral Interconnector (SPI), an Inter-Integrated
Circuit (12C), or a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter
(UART). Alternatively, the control unit 400 may transmit/receive a
signal over a vehicle communication network such as a Controller
Area Network (CAN). Also, the control unit 400 may be connected to
the display module 100 through a bus interface or a vehicle network
such as the CAN.
[0037] The gear position sensor 500 senses which gear step a gear
shift lever is disposed at. That is, the gear position sensor 500
sense which of a parking step (P), reverse step (R), neutral step
(N), and driving step (D) the gear shift lever is disposed at, and
may be configured with a plurality of gear-step switches which are
switched on according to that the gear shift lever is disposed at a
corresponding gear step. The steering angle sensor 600 is a known
sensor that detects a steering angle. The illumination intensity
sensor 700 is a module that senses intensity of illumination
outside the vehicle, and may be an auto light sensor that is
generally mounted on vehicles. The illumination intensity sensor
700 is mounted on an appropriate position of a rear end of the
vehicle so as to sense intensity of illumination in the rearward
region of the vehicle. The control unit 400 may respectively
receive gear position information, steering angle information, and
illumination intensity information from the gear position sensor
500, the steering angle sensor 600, and the illumination intensity
sensor 700 over the vehicle communication network such as the CAN
or a Local Interconnect Network (LIN).
[0038] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a parking assistance process
of the parking assistance system will be described with reference
to FIG. 1. In the following description, for convenience of
description, the parking assistance system is limited as performing
a process for assisting reverse parking, but the present disclosure
is not limited thereto.
[0039] First, the control unit 400 controls the projector 200 to
illuminate the rearward region of the vehicle, and controls the
capture module 300 to capture the rearward region of the vehicle.
In an embodiment, when the gear position sensor 500 senses the gear
shift lever being disposed at the backing step, the control unit
400 controls the projector 200 and the capture module 300.
Specifically, the control unit 400 transfers a control signal for
activating a projection lamp function, to the projector 200, and
transfers a control signal indicating a capture to the capture
module 300. Therefore, the projector 200 operates a projection lamp
to illuminate a road surface rearward from the vehicle, and the
capture module 300 starts a capture. Herein, an illumination
region, namely, the projection region 210 of the projector 200 may
be matched with the width of the vehicle as illustrated in FIG. 3.
The capture module 300 converts a light signal, inputted through a
lens, into an electric image signal and then converts the electric
image signal into digital image data to transfer the digital image
data to the control unit 400. The control unit 400 outputs the
digital image data to the display module 100, which displays a
rearward image of the vehicle on a screen. In this way, the
rearward image of the vehicle illuminated by the projector 200 is
displayed, and thus, a driver easily checks the rearward region of
the vehicle visually, thereby performing stable reverse
parking.
[0040] Additionally, the control unit 400 delivers a reverse
parking assistance image to the projector 200, thereby allowing the
projector 200 to project the reverse parking assistance image onto
the projection region 210. The reverse parking assistance image may
be a backing guide image, an obstacle image, or a text image.
Alternatively, the reverse parking assistance image may be an image
with two or more overlapped images. In a first embodiment, the
control unit 400 delivers the backing guide image to the projector
200 and thus allows the backing guide image to be projected onto
the projection region 210. Herein, the backing guide image is an
image for guiding the backing of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the
backing guide image is an image where both guide lines are
separated by the width of the vehicle and displayed as a straight
line. In another embodiment, the backing guide image is an image
where a guide line trace corresponding to a steering angle is
displayed on a background image. In the latter, a memory of the
parking assistance system may correspondingly store guide line
trace images by steering angle. In this case, the control unit 400
receives steering angle information from the steering angle sensor
600, and extracts a guide line trace image, corresponding to the
received steering angle information, from the memory. The control
unit 400 displays the extracted guide line trace image on the
background image, and transfers the background image with the guide
line trace image displayed thereon, to the projector 200.
Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the projector 200 projects the
guide line trace image onto the projection region 210.
[0041] In a second embodiment, the control unit 400 transfers the
obstacle image to the projector 200, thereby allowing the obstacle
image to be projected onto the projection region 210. For this end,
the parking assistance system may further include an obstacle
sensor 800 that senses whether an obstacle is located in the
rearward region of the vehicle. As the obstacle sensor 800, an
ultrasonic sensor may be used. A plurality of the ultrasonic
sensors may be disposed at certain intervals, at the rear end of
the vehicle. Therefore, the location of the obstacle is detected by
the ultrasonic sensor. That is, when a left ultrasonic sensor has
sensed an obstacle, the control unit 400 determines the obstacle as
being disposed at the left of the rearward region of the vehicle,
but when a right ultrasonic sensor has been sensed an obstacle, the
control unit 400 determines the obstacle as being disposed at the
right of the rearward region of the vehicle. Also, the control unit
400 may determine a distance from the vehicle to the obstacle, with
ultrasonic sensing data. Therefore, in consideration of the
location of the obstacle and a distance to the obstacle, the
control unit 400 displays an obstacle image object on the
background image to generate an obstacle image, and transfers the
obstacle image to the projector 200. Thus, as illustrated in FIG.
5, the projector 200 projects the obstacle image onto the
projection region 210. Accordingly, even at an environment where
the rearward region of the vehicle is dark, the driver can find the
obstacle that is located at the left of the rearward region of the
vehicle, by using the display module 100.
[0042] In a third embodiment, the control unit 400 delivers the
text image to the projector 200, thereby allowing the text image to
be projected onto the projection region 210. Herein, the text image
is an image where a text is displayed on the background image. The
text is a caution phrase for notifying a pedestrian of that the
vehicle intends to back. The caution phrase may be selected by the
driver. That is, the driver may select any one of a plurality of
caution phrases, which are stored in the memory of the parking
assistance system, through a user interface and use the selected
phrase in reverse parking. Alternatively, the driver may input a
desired caution phrase through the user interface and use the
inputted phrase. The control unit 400 displays a default caution
phrase on the background image to generate the text image, and
transfers the text image to the projector 200. Therefore, as
illustrated in FIG. 6, the projector 200 projects the text image
onto the projection region 210. Accordingly, the stability of the
pedestrian can be secured, and moreover, the text image can aid the
backing or reverse parking of the vehicle.
[0043] In the above-described embodiments, the control unit 400
transfers the guide image, the obstacle image, or the text image to
the projector 200, but the present disclosure is not limited
thereto. The control unit 400 may transfer an image with two or
more overlapped images to the projector 200, and moreover,
depending on the case, the control unit 400 may transfer a
corresponding image to the projector 200. As an example, the
control unit 200 may initially transfer the text image to the
projector 200 for one sec to two sec, and then transfer the guide
image, the obstacle image, or a guide image with an obstacle image
object overlapped therewith to the projector 200. As another
example, when the gear shift lever is disposed at the backing step,
the control unit 400 immediately transfer the guide image or the
guide image with the obstacle image object overlapped therewith to
the projector 200, but when the movement of an obstacle is sensed
by the obstacle sensor 800, the control unit 400 may transfer the
text image to the projector 200. Also, various information as well
as the below-described reverse parking assistance image may be
projected onto the projection region 210.
[0044] The control unit 400 may not determine whether to perform a
reverse parking assistance process by using only position
information of the gear shift lever but determine whether to
perform the reverse parking assistance process on the further basis
of illumination intensity information. That is, when the position
of the gear shift lever sensed by the gear position sensor 500 is
the backing step and intensity of illumination sensed by the
illumination intensity sensor 700 is less than or equal to a
reference value, the control unit 400 performs the reverse parking
assistance process. Herein, the reference value denotes a value
that becomes a reference for determining the rearward region of the
vehicle as dark. This is because the projector 200 needs not
perform an unnecessary operation when the rearward region of the
vehicle is not dark and thus an image captured by the camera is
well checked. As another example, with no consideration of the
position of the gear shift lever, the control unit 400 may perform
the reverse parking assistance process when the intensity of
illumination sensed by the illumination intensity sensor 700 is
less than or equal to the reference value.
[0045] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a parking assistance
method using the projector, according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 7, the control unit 400 determines whether
the gear shift lever is disposed at the backing step in operation
S100. In an embodiment, the control unit 400 may determine whether
the gear shift lever is disposed at the backing step, with a
switching signal inputted from the gear position sensor 500. In
operation S200, when the gear shift lever is determined as being
disposed at the backing step, the control unit 400 activates the
capture camera 300 that is a rear camera. Also, the control unit
400 determines whether the intensity of illumination sensed by the
illumination intensity sensor 700 is less than or equal to the
reference value in operation S300. In operation S400, when the
sensed intensity of illumination is determined as less than or
equal to the reference value, the control unit 400 controls the
projector 200 to activate the projection lamp. The activated
projection lamp illuminates a road surface (which is at least one
portion of the capture region of the capture module 300) rearward
from the vehicle. Such an illumination region is a projection
region onto which an image is projected.
[0047] The control unit 400 activates the projection lamp, and then
delivers a reverse parking assistance image, intended to be
projected onto the projection region, to the projector 200 in
operation S500. The projector 200 projects the reverse parking
assistance image onto the projection region. Herein, the reverse
parking assistance image may be the backing guide image of FIG. 4,
the obstacle image of FIG. 5, the text image of FIG. 6, or an
overlap image thereof. As an example, the overlap image may be the
backing guide image with an obstacle image object overlapped
therewith.
[0048] In an embodiment, the control unit 400 activates the
projection lamp, delivers the text image to the projector 200 to be
projected onto the projection region for one sec to two sec, and
delivers the backing guide image to the projector 200 to be
projected onto the projection region. Alternatively, the control
unit 400 may activate the projection lamp, and immediately deliver
the backing guide image to the projector 200 to be projected onto
the projection region. At this point, when the change of a steering
angle is not sensed by the steering angle sensor 600, the control
unit 400 delivers a backing guide image with a fixed guide line
displayed thereon to the projector 200, or when the change of a
steering angle is sensed by the steering angle sensor 600, the
control unit 400 delivers a backing guide image with a guide line
trace (corresponding to the sensed steering angle) displayed
thereon to the projector 200. When an obstacle is sensed by the
obstacle sensor 800, the control unit 400 delivers a backing guide
image with an obstacle image object overlapped therewith to the
projector 200, thereby allowing the backing guide image to be
projected onto the projection region. When the movement of an
obstacle is sensed, the control unit 400 delivers a text image to
the projector 200, thereby allowing the text image to be projected
onto the projection region. In this case, a phrase (which requests
the aid of a pedestrian) such as "please get out of the way!" may
be displayed as a phrase that is displayed on the text image.
Subsequently, when the movement of the obstacle is not sensed, the
control unit 400 again transfers a backing guide image to the
projector 200, thereby allowing the backing guide image to be
projected onto the projection region.
[0049] The activated capture module 300 converts a light signal,
inputted through a lens, into an electric signal, and converts the
electric signal into digital image data to transfer the digital
image data to the control unit 400. The control unit 400 receives
the digital image data from the capture module 300 in operation
S600, processes the digital image data according to a screen output
format, and outputs the processed image data to the display module
100 in operation S700. Therefore, when the gear shift lever is
disposed at the backing step and the sensed intensity of
illumination is less than or equal to the reference value, the
display module 100 displays an image, captured by the camera, for a
region which is illuminated by the projector 200 and onto which the
reverse parking assistance image is projected.
[0050] In FIG. 7, operation S400 of activating the projection lamp
is illustrated as being performed after operation S200 of
activating the capture module 300, but the present disclosure is
not limited thereto. That is, the projection lamp may be first
activated, and then the capture module 300 may be activated. For
example, when the gear shift lever is checked as being disposed at
the backing step, the control unit 400 determines whether the
sensed intensity of illumination is less than or equal to the
reference value. When the sensed intensity of illumination is less
than or equal to the reference value, the control unit 400 may
activate the projection lamp and then activate the capture module
300. Alternatively, the control unit 400 may activate the
projection lamp, deliver an image for projecting to the projector
200, and then activate the capture module 300. That is, the
sequential operations of FIG. 7 are illustrated as an example, and
the order of performing the operations of FIG. 7 may be
changed.
[0051] The above-described operation S300 may not be performed.
That is, when the gear shift lever is disposed at the backing step,
the control unit 400 may activate the capture module 300, and
moreover activate the projection lamp irrespective of intensity of
illumination. Also, the above-described operation S100 may not be
performed. That is, when the sensed intensity of illumination is
determined as less than or equal to the reference value, the
control unit 400 may activate the projection lamp regardless of the
position of the gear shift lever. In this case, the control unit
400 may further consider conditions other than the position of the
gear shift lever. For example, in a state where a mode of assisting
reverse parking has been set, the control unit 400 activates the
capture module 300 and the projection lamp when the sensed
intensity of illumination is less than or equal to the reference
value. Also, the above-described operations S100 and S300 may not
be performed. That is, when conditions other than the disposition
of the gear shift lever and the intensity of illumination are
achieved, the control unit 400 may activate the capture module 300
and the projection lamp. For example, when a driver inputs a
command for assisting reverse parking through the user interface,
the control unit 400 may activate the capture module 300 and the
projection lamp.
[0052] According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the
projector illuminates the capture region of the camera at a dark
environment where an image captured by the camera is invisible to a
driver, thus enabling the driver to easily check the captured image
visually. Furthermore, the projector projects various images (for
example, the backing guide image, the obstacle image, or the text
image that includes a phrase for cautioning a pedestrian against a
vehicle) for the support of parking, onto the outside of the
vehicle, and thus can more actively assist parking.
[0053] A number of exemplary embodiments have been described above.
Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may
be made. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the
described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if
components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit
are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented
by other components or their equivalents. Accordingly, other
implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
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